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For plants to produce fruit or seeds, pollination must occur. During pollination, male and female pollen combine to complete fertilization. This allows the seeds and fruit to grow and mature. Some plants can self-pollinate, but others have mechanisms that prevent self-pollination. These plants must cross-pollinate.

Self-Pollination and Cross-Pollination

During self-pollination, a plant transfers pollen from its anther to its stigma to complete the cycle of pollination. While some plants have female and male flowers and can self-pollinate, other plants grow as either a male or female plant. In cross-pollination, a plant is fertilized by receiving pollen from the stigma of another plant to develop fruit and seeds. A plant that is cross-pollinated cannot grow and mature on its own, because it must receive pollen from another plant. Most cross-pollinated plants are pollinated by bees.

About the Author

Amy Kingston has been a professional writer since 2001. She has written articles for various publications, including "Health" magazine, "Jackson Parenting" magazine, the "Bolivar Bulletin" newspaper and "A Musician's Pursuit." Kingston was also published in "Voices of Bipolar Disorder."